It is a time for celebration; celebration ofIndia’s free spirit! Sixty five years ago, India broke away from 150 years of British occupation. India’s independence day is celebrated with great fervor in honor of the great leaders and freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives in the name of India’s independence. The struggle for liberty began in 1857 with the Sepoy Mutiny in the town of Meerut. At 11:00 PM on August 14, 1947, the Constituent Assembly conducted a meeting to celebrate India’s Independence; India became a free country thereafter at the stroke of midnight.

Today, India stands much taller than it did before liberation. India has grown at a rapid pace since independence. India’s economy continues to improve with advances in agriculture, technology, and a modernization of society. The future looks positive for this country.

For the 1.2 billion Indians at home and Indian nationals in various countries around the world, August 15 carries with it strong emotions and sentiments. Parents overseas exploit this time of Indian pride by encouraging their children to embrace Indian culture and learn to speak Hindi, the Indian national language. Fortunately, there are several classes conducted in many cities that can assist inlearning the Hindi language.

Celebrations start well before the actual day. On the eve of independence day, when the world sleeps, India awakens by marching to the virtues of life and freedom at midnight. The day is marked by the hoisting of the national flag by the prime minister of India at the Red Fort, as well as by chief ministers in their respective state capitals. This motion is followed by an Independence Day parade through the capital, in addition to a multitude of cultural events that are held across the ountry. The skies are dotted with countless kites flown from rooftops and fields symbolizing the free spirit of India.